Apps to Try

Story Wheel

Free, Language Arts--
Story creation app. Players take turns spinning the wheel and recording 30 seconds of a story based on whatever picture the wheel landed on. Good for reluctant writers.

Multiplica -tion+

Free, Math--
Multiplication facts practice. You can choose which sets, 1x-9x will appear and whether they appear sequentially or in random order. Will also show statistics for player (These aren't savable, but can be reset for new students)

Little Writer-The Tracing App for Kids

Story Wheel

Free, Language Arts--
Story creation app. Players take turns spinning the wheel and recording 30 seconds of a story based on whatever picture the wheel landed on. Good for reluctant writers.

Multiplica -tion+

Free, Math--
Multiplication facts practice. You can choose which sets, 1x-9x will appear and whether they appear sequentially or in random order. Will also show statistics for player (These aren't savable, but can be reset for new students)

Election Websites for Elementary Students

Tech Wednesdays 3:00-3:20

In technology overload? Come to Tech Thursdays as we try to clear up some of that confusion and learn together about Edmodo, GoogleDrive, iPad Apps, Learn 360 and more! We will meet Thursdays in the computer lab from 3:00-3:20 for a short training on different technologies. Here are the topics I am planning for October and November.

Apps to Try

Scribble Press

Free--
Write and illustrate your own book. Includes templates to follow or a blank book feature. Could be used with any grade level or as a group/class.

Pearl Diver

Free--
Math app that focuses on number line and fraction skills. For grades 3 and up.

Top-It

$1.99--
Two player Everyday Math game to practice addition and comparing sums

Scribble Press

Free--
Write and illustrate your own book. Includes templates to follow or a blank book feature. Could be used with any grade level or as a group/class.

Pearl Diver

Free--
Math app that focuses on number line and fraction skills. For grades 3 and up.

Top-It

$1.99--
Two player Everyday Math game to practice addition and comparing sums

Maud Hart Lovelace Book Award

The Maud Hart Lovelace Book Award is a children’s book award decided on by Minnesota children. Students in grades 3-5 who have read at least three of the twelve nominated fiction books during the year are eligible to vote for their favorite at the end of March. The winning book and next year’s nominees will be announced April 25th. Books read as read alouds count toward the three books needed to vote.

Nominees...

11 Birthdays by Wendy Mass

Beef Princess of Practical County by Michelle Houts

Calvin Coconut, Trouble Magnet by Graham Salisbury

Case of the Case of Mistaken Identity (Brixton Brothers) by Mac Barnett

Diamond Willow by Helen Frost

Dog on His Own by Mary Jane Auch

Dying to Meet You (43 Old Cemetery Road) by Kate Klise

Extra Credit by Andrew Clements

Faith, Hope and Ivy June by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

Piper Reed, Navy Brat by Kimberly Holt

Secret of Zoom by Lynne Jonell

Top of the Order (4 for 4) by John Coy

MHL Read Aloud Ideas

Extra Credit by Andrew Clements

Abby Carson needs to do some extra credit work, or she will have to repeat 6th grade. Her project is to be pen pals with a student in Afghanistan. The only student in the village who knows English well enough to respond is a boy and it isn't proper for a boy to write to a girl, so he dictates the letters to his sister. This brings up more questions of education for girls and contact with America. Children from two very different parts of the world learn about each others culture and about themselves.

The Secret of Zoom by Lynne Jonell

Christina lives in an old stone mansion surrounded by an electric fence and isn't allowed to leave the house. She becomes friends with an orphan named Taft and together they uncover a sinister mystery about the laboratory Christina's parents work for. Secret tunnels, a mysterious substance called Zoom, mini airplanes, and kidnapped orphans are all part of the excitement and mystery. A Roald Dahl-like read with lots of excitement, humor, and mystery. Minnesota author!!!

A Dog on His Own by Mary Jane Auch

K-10, named because he is a step above other dogs, wants to be on his own. Humans have disappointed him too many times and he has escaping from shelters down to an art. Then, during his latest escape he meets a tough dog named Pearl and an overly perky Chihuahua named Peppy he starts to wonder if having friends and a family isn't such a bad thing. Told from K-10 point of view. Kids will love the humor. Great story about friendship too.

Extra Credit by Andrew Clements

Abby Carson needs to do some extra credit work, or she will have to repeat 6th grade. Her project is to be pen pals with a student in Afghanistan. The only student in the village who knows English well enough to respond is a boy and it isn't proper for a boy to write to a girl, so he dictates the letters to his sister. This brings up more questions of education for girls and contact with America. Children from two very different parts of the world learn about each others culture and about themselves.

The Secret of Zoom by Lynne Jonell

Christina lives in an old stone mansion surrounded by an electric fence and isn't allowed to leave the house. She becomes friends with an orphan named Taft and together they uncover a sinister mystery about the laboratory Christina's parents work for. Secret tunnels, a mysterious substance called Zoom, mini airplanes, and kidnapped orphans are all part of the excitement and mystery. A Roald Dahl-like read with lots of excitement, humor, and mystery. Minnesota author!!!

A Dog on His Own by Mary Jane Auch

K-10, named because he is a step above other dogs, wants to be on his own. Humans have disappointed him too many times and he has escaping from shelters down to an art. Then, during his latest escape he meets a tough dog named Pearl and an overly perky Chihuahua named Peppy he starts to wonder if having friends and a family isn't such a bad thing. Told from K-10 point of view. Kids will love the humor. Great story about friendship too.